US4825788A - Method and apparatus for automatically matching two corners of pieces of fabric, and inserting them into a sewing machine - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for automatically matching two corners of pieces of fabric, and inserting them into a sewing machine Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US4825788A
US4825788A US07/104,832 US10483287A US4825788A US 4825788 A US4825788 A US 4825788A US 10483287 A US10483287 A US 10483287A US 4825788 A US4825788 A US 4825788A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
piece
fabric
sewing
pieces
line
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US07/104,832
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Michel Julien
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Institut Textile de France
Original Assignee
Institut Textile de France
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Institut Textile de France filed Critical Institut Textile de France
Assigned to INSTITUT TEXTILE DE FRANCE, 35, RUE DES ABONDANCES - BP 79 - 92105 BOULOGNE BILLANCOURT CEDEX (FRANCE) reassignment INSTITUT TEXTILE DE FRANCE, 35, RUE DES ABONDANCES - BP 79 - 92105 BOULOGNE BILLANCOURT CEDEX (FRANCE) ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: JULIEN, MICHEL
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4825788A publication Critical patent/US4825788A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05B—SEWING
    • D05B27/00—Work-feeding means
    • D05B27/02—Work-feeding means with feed dogs having horizontal and vertical movements
    • D05B27/06—Work-feeding means with feed dogs having horizontal and vertical movements arranged above and below the workpieces
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05B—SEWING
    • D05B35/00—Work-feeding or -handling elements not otherwise provided for
    • D05B35/10—Edge guides
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05D—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES D05B AND D05C, RELATING TO SEWING, EMBROIDERING AND TUFTING
    • D05D2207/00—Use of special elements
    • D05D2207/02—Pneumatic or hydraulic devices
    • D05D2207/04—Suction or blowing devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to automatically inserting two pieces of fabric under the presser foot of a sewing machine, and more particularly to inserting two superposed pieces after two corresponding corners have been matched.
  • the invention relates particularly to making up textile articles, but it extends more generally to any field in which it is necessary to accurately superpose and assemble two flexible pieces.
  • a frequent operation when making up textile articles consists in assembling two pieces of fabric along their edges, and this operation requires two corners from which sewing is to begin to be matched initially.
  • the superposing of two pieces and the putting into co-incidence of both sides of the corners over lengths of a few centimeters are manipulation operations that are difficult and whose duration increases with the complexity involved in grasping each piece. For example, with a jersey knit, matching often begins by unrolling the edges. Once their corners have been matched, the two superposed pieces are brought to and inserted under the presser foot of the sewing machine. All of these "pre-sewing" operations are performed manually and require a great deal of accuracy and practice on the part of the operator.
  • the present invention concerns a method which has been discovered of assisting an operator to automatically provide exact matching of two corners and to insert the two superposed pieces under the presser foot of the sewing machine, starting from two pieces which are approximately superposed by hand and which are positioned approximately in the vicinity of the corners concerned.
  • the method of the present invention comprises the following steps:
  • the first piece is inserted manually over a first slide surface coplanar with the working plane of the sewing machine, and is pushed by first thrust means up to a first rectilinear abutment which is parallel to the sewing line and which is slightly beyond said line;
  • first displacement means press against the first piece and displace it by sliding over the first slide surface along a direction parallel to the sewing line until the other side of the angle in the first piece has reached a predetermined reference line;
  • the second piece is inserted manually over a second slide surface whose plane is parallel to and lies above the first slide surface, the piece is pushed by second thrust means until it reaches a second rectilinear abutment situated in the same vertical plane as the first abutment;
  • second displacement means press against the second piece and displace it by sliding over the second slide surface along a direction parallel to the sewing line, until the other side of the corner of the second piece reaches the predetermined reference line;
  • step a all the operator needs to do is manually insert the first piece (step a) and then the second piece (step c) over each of the corresponding slide surfaces, with the pieces being approximately positioned in the vicinity of the corners concerned.
  • the first piece is accurately positioned initially with the side of the corner along which sewing is to take place running along the first abutment, and then with the other side of the corner running along the reference line.
  • the same positioning operation is then performed with the second piece and then the two exactly superposed pieces are displaced simultaneously and are inserted beneath the presser foot of the sewing machine.
  • the method in accordance with the invention makes it possible to perform some of the work in overlapping time, insofar as the operator prepares and inserts the second piece while the first piece is being positioned during steps a and b.
  • rectilinear abutment used above should be understood in a wide sense: it comprises means along which the piece terminates its displacement. This may, in fact, be an abutment in the normal sense of the word, i.e. solid means against which the side of the piece is constrained to come to rest. However, in accordance with the method of the invention, it may also be incorporeal means, e.g. a reference line along which the side of the piece is positioned. In the first case, the thrust means have the sole function of thrusting the piece towards the abutment. In the second case, the thrust means have the additional function of stopping the piece along the reference line constituting the abutment.
  • the invention also provides apparatus specifically designed for implementing the above method.
  • This apparatus comprises the following items:
  • a second slide plate whose plane is parallel to and lies above the first slide plate, and on which a second rectilinear abutment is placed in the same vertical plane as the first abutment;
  • two sets of displacement means each set being capable of displacing a respective one of the pieces of fabric in a direction parallel to the sewing line, initially up to a reference line, and subsequently up to the presser foot of the sewing machine, by sliding the pieces of fabric over the bottom face and the top face respectively of the second slide plate.
  • the thrust means are pneumatic means comprising nozzles fed with compressed air and inclined in the direction along which the piece of fabric is to be thrust.
  • each set of displacement means comprises:
  • a dog drive device capable of communicating thereto both a vertical motion between a first position in which the dog is at a distance from the second slide plate and a second position in which the dog is in contact with said plate, and a horizontal motion along the direction of the sewing line;
  • each drive device is connected to synchronizing means for causing both dogs to move simultaneously and at the same speed along the direction of the sewing line through a distance equal to the distance between the reference line and the underside of the presser foot of the sewing machine.
  • the apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a third slide plate extending substantially parallel to the working plane and situated above the second slide plate, and in that the thrust means comprise orifices through the first slide plate and through said third slide plate.
  • the second and third plates are slightly upwardly curved in order to facilitate inserting the pieces into the appropriate gaps, with the first piece being inserted between the first and second plates and with the second piece being inserted between the second and third plates.
  • FIG. 1 is a section through the apparatus transversely to the sewing line
  • FIG. 2 is a section through the apparatus along the sewing line
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus
  • FIGS. 4a to 4e are diagrammatic plan views of different stages of operation
  • FIGS. 5a to 5f are diagrammatic sections along the sewing line during different stages of operation
  • FIG. 6 shows the position taken up by two pieces between the plates
  • FIG. 7 illustrates the jersey knit case.
  • the edge-guide 1 comprises three superposed plates 2, 3, and 4.
  • the bottom plate 2 is placed in front of the needle plate 5 in such a manner that the top faces of these two plates 2 and 5 are coplanar. It includes a plurality of orifices 6 which are inclined relative to the horizontal plane and which open out into a housing 7 made within the plate 2 itself; said housing 7 being closed by a small plate 8 having a compressed air delivery inlet 9 fixed therethrough.
  • the top plate 4 also has orifices 10 supplied with compressed air in the same way as the orifices 6. In both cases, the orifices 6 and 10 are oriented substantially along the direction of arrow D.
  • the plates 2 and 4 are separated from the intermediate plate 3 by means of spacers 11 and 12 which constitute the abutments at the back of the guide.
  • the inside portions of the spacers 11 and 12 constituting the abutments lie in the same vertical plane which extends parallel to the sewing line 13 which passes through the needle 14.
  • Each of the plates 2 and 4 is partially hollowed out along a slot 15 or 16, as the case may be, with a corresponding dog 17 or 18 located therein.
  • the slots 15 and 16 allow their dogs 17 and 18 to move horizontally along the sewing line 13.
  • Each dog 17 and 18 is connected to a corresponding drive device enabling the dog to move both vertically and horizontally.
  • the drive devices are constituted by components described below.
  • Brackets 22 and 23 are fixed on a plate 19 which is fixed to the frame of the sewing machine 20 by means of a vertical axis hinge 21. Each bracket receives components for displacing one of the dogs, with the bottom bracket 22 receiving components corresponding to the bottom dog 17 and the top bracket 23 receiving components corresponding to the top dog 18.
  • the bracket 22 supports both a stepper motor 24 and a rotary shaft 25.
  • a pulley wheel 26 is fixed to the shaft 25 and is connected to a pulley wheel 27 on the motor 24 by means of a toothed belt 28.
  • a support part 29 is hinged about the shaft 25. It has two guide shaft holes 30 and 31 slidably receiving the shafts 32 and 33 fixed to a mechanism 34.
  • the mechanism 34 includes an arm 35 having a support 37 for the dog 18 at the end thereof, and a rack 38 which meshes with a gearwheel 39 fixed on the shaft 25.
  • a spring 41 and an adjusting screw 40 fixed to the bracket 23 serve to apply an adjustable pressure on the arm 35 via a part 42 carrying a wheel 43 which is received inside a slot 36 in the arm 35. This disposition makes it possible to displace the arm 35 while maintaining the action of the spring 41.
  • the bottom portion 44 of the part 42 receives the end of an actuator rod, belonging to an actuator 45 which is fixed to the plate 19.
  • the edge-guide 1 is fixed to the end of the plate 19.
  • a locking screw (not shown) serves to fix the assembled apparatus in position.
  • a photocell 46 is placed above the edge-guide 1 and ahead of the presser foot 47 of the sewing machine.
  • the working axis of the cell 46 is vertical and the plates 3 and 4 have holes to pass a light beam.
  • the photocell 46 is connected to the stepper motor 24.
  • Two proximity detectors 47 and 48 located beneath the mechanism 34 are also connected to the stepper motor 24.
  • the first piece of fabric 49 is inserted manually by the operator approximately into position. It is pushed towards the abutment line 50 along arrow D transversely to the sewing line 13 (see FIG. 4a). Once the side 51 along which sewing is to take place is positioned exactly along the abutment line 50, the first piece 49 is moved along arrow D' (see FIG. 4b) until the other side 52 of the corner has reached reference line 53 (see FIG. 4c). While this is taking place, the operator manually inserts the second piece of fabric 54 approximately into position. This second piece 54 is likewise thrust along the direction of arrow D (FIG.
  • the operation of the apparatus as described above takes place as follows.
  • the dogs 17 and 18 Prior to inserting the first piece of fabric, the dogs 17 and 18 are in their high positions lying outside the slots 15 and 16 through the plates 2 and 4 (FIG. 5a).
  • the operator manually inserts the first piece 49 between the plates 2 and 3 while compressed air is being fed through the orifices 6 to push the piece 49 to the end of the guide 1 against the abutment 11.
  • the action of the jets of compressed air is maintained throughout the following operations, including sewing.
  • the piece 49 obstructs the photocell 46.
  • the retraction of the actuator 45' applies the dog 17 onto the piece 49 against the bottom face of the intermediate plate 3.
  • the piece is thus clamped between the dog 17 and the plate 3 (FIG. 5b).
  • the stepper motor 24' is started and drives the dog 17 until the piece 49 ceases to obstruct the cell 46 (FIG. 5c).
  • the side 52 of the piece 49 is then positioned along the reference line 53.
  • the dog 17 is driven by rotation of the stepper motor 24' as follows.
  • the pulley 27' on the motor 24' rotates the shaft 25' by means of the toothed belt 28' and the pulley wheel 26'.
  • the gearwheel 39' mounted on the shaft 25' rotates and displaces the rack 38' and consequently displaces the mechanism 34', the support 37', and thus the dog 17.
  • the mechanism 34' is kept horizontal during its displacement by the guide shafts 32' and 33' passing through the guide shaft holes 30' and 31'.
  • the same operations are performed to position the second piece of fabric 54.
  • the operator manually inserts this piece 54 between the two plates 3 and 4 of the edge guide 1.
  • the jets of air leaving the orifices 10 push the piece 54 against the abutment 12 at the end of the guide.
  • the photocell 46 is thus obstructed a further time.
  • the operator presses on the control pedal and causes the actuator 45 to retract and lower the dog 18 against the top face of the intermediate plate 3 (FIG. 5d).
  • the dog 18 is moved by the stepper motor 24, thereby driving the piece 54 until the cell 46 is no longer obstructed (FIG. 5e).
  • the side 56 of the piece 54 is then in position along the reference line 53 and the two pieces 49 and 54 are exactly superposed.
  • both stepper motors 24 and 24' turn through a predetermined number of steps in the opposite direction to their previous direction of rotation, thereby simultaneously displacing the two dogs 17 and 18 at the same speed towards the presser foot 47.
  • the number of steps is fixed as a function of the distance between the reference line 53 as indicated by the cell 46 and the bottom of the presser foot 47.
  • both pieces are inserted in exact superposition beneath the presser foot 47 (FIG. 5f).
  • the actuators 45 and 45' retract moving the dogs 17 and 18 back to their initial positions (FIG. 5a) as determined by proximity detectors 47 and 48.
  • the jets of air from the orifices 6 serve not only to push the knit towards the abutment 11 at the end of the guide 1, but also serve to unroll the leading edge before it reaches the end of the guide (FIG. 7).
  • the above description corresponds to using apparatus in accordance with the invention to assist an operator when automatically matching two corners in pieces of fabric and inserting them into a sewing machine.
  • the apparatus may also constitute an item of automation in a more complex machine.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Sewing Machines And Sewing (AREA)
US07/104,832 1986-10-03 1987-10-02 Method and apparatus for automatically matching two corners of pieces of fabric, and inserting them into a sewing machine Expired - Fee Related US4825788A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8613831A FR2604732B1 (fr) 1986-10-03 1986-10-03 Procede et dispositif d'ajustement et d'introduction automatique de deux angles de pieces textiles sur une machine a coudre
FR8613831 1986-10-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4825788A true US4825788A (en) 1989-05-02

Family

ID=9339535

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/104,832 Expired - Fee Related US4825788A (en) 1986-10-03 1987-10-02 Method and apparatus for automatically matching two corners of pieces of fabric, and inserting them into a sewing machine

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US4825788A (fr)
EP (1) EP0267816B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS63164991A (fr)
AT (1) ATE66504T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3772330D1 (fr)
ES (1) ES2025682T3 (fr)
FR (1) FR2604732B1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8408150B1 (en) 2011-09-20 2013-04-02 Tenna M. Ragan Sewing aid
CN105133199A (zh) * 2015-09-08 2015-12-09 西安标准工业股份有限公司 一种带有自动送模板机构的缝纫机及其使用方法
US9931069B2 (en) 2011-05-20 2018-04-03 Google Llc Systems and methods for measuring reactions of head, eyes, eyelids and pupils

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3782310A (en) * 1971-10-01 1974-01-01 Pfaff Ind Masch Sewing machine wth equipment for sewing of edge-parallel seams
US3867889A (en) * 1973-08-03 1975-02-25 Stahl Urban Co Apparatus for seaming pieces of textile fabric or the like
US4036156A (en) * 1974-12-05 1977-07-19 Pfaff Industriemaschinen Gmbh Device for sewing together plies of material adjusted to equal lengths
US4037546A (en) * 1976-07-27 1977-07-26 Union Special G.M.B.H. Sewing machine apparatus for aligning and sewing pieces of textile fabric or the like
US4133279A (en) * 1976-03-16 1979-01-09 Siegfried Wajcmann Sewing apparatus
US4590876A (en) * 1983-12-21 1986-05-27 Veb Kombinat Oberbekleidung Berlin Stammbetrieb Veb Herrenbekleidung Fortschritt Edge guide and fabric feed for sewing machine

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2361375C2 (de) * 1973-12-10 1976-01-02 Pfaff Industriemaschinen Gmbh, 6750 Kaiserslautern Nähmaschine zum lagengleichen Vernähen zweier Nähgutlagen
IT1042604B (it) * 1975-09-17 1980-01-30 Rockwell Rimoldi Spa Dispositivo per facilitare l inse rimento di due strati di tessuto in una gitra di una macchina per cucire
DE2608859C2 (de) * 1976-03-04 1983-10-13 Dürkoppwerke GmbH, 4800 Bielefeld Verstellvorrichtung mit Steuermitteln für die Vorschubgröße einer Nähmaschine
DE2839399A1 (de) * 1978-09-11 1980-03-20 Union Special Gmbh Kantenfuehrung fuer naehmaschinen

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3782310A (en) * 1971-10-01 1974-01-01 Pfaff Ind Masch Sewing machine wth equipment for sewing of edge-parallel seams
US3867889A (en) * 1973-08-03 1975-02-25 Stahl Urban Co Apparatus for seaming pieces of textile fabric or the like
US4036156A (en) * 1974-12-05 1977-07-19 Pfaff Industriemaschinen Gmbh Device for sewing together plies of material adjusted to equal lengths
US4133279A (en) * 1976-03-16 1979-01-09 Siegfried Wajcmann Sewing apparatus
US4037546A (en) * 1976-07-27 1977-07-26 Union Special G.M.B.H. Sewing machine apparatus for aligning and sewing pieces of textile fabric or the like
US4590876A (en) * 1983-12-21 1986-05-27 Veb Kombinat Oberbekleidung Berlin Stammbetrieb Veb Herrenbekleidung Fortschritt Edge guide and fabric feed for sewing machine

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9931069B2 (en) 2011-05-20 2018-04-03 Google Llc Systems and methods for measuring reactions of head, eyes, eyelids and pupils
US8408150B1 (en) 2011-09-20 2013-04-02 Tenna M. Ragan Sewing aid
CN105133199A (zh) * 2015-09-08 2015-12-09 西安标准工业股份有限公司 一种带有自动送模板机构的缝纫机及其使用方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS63164991A (ja) 1988-07-08
ES2025682T3 (es) 1992-04-01
ATE66504T1 (de) 1991-09-15
DE3772330D1 (de) 1991-09-26
FR2604732A1 (fr) 1988-04-08
EP0267816B1 (fr) 1991-08-21
EP0267816A1 (fr) 1988-05-18
FR2604732B1 (fr) 1989-02-03

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4608936A (en) Apparatus for automatically fabricating cut and edge stitched textile articles
US3589320A (en) Pocket blank sewing machine
US4829918A (en) Replenishing apparatus for web processing machines with edge decurler
US4188898A (en) System for combining stocking materials and gussets to form panty hose garments
EP0723608A1 (fr) Alignement automatique de materiau et positionnement a l'endroit de formation des points
KR20080066567A (ko) 자동 재봉기
US4292908A (en) Hemmer-seamer
US5272994A (en) Method and device for transporting and sewing a workpiece, pocket blank and pocket flap
US4825788A (en) Method and apparatus for automatically matching two corners of pieces of fabric, and inserting them into a sewing machine
US6062795A (en) Wafer ring feeding apparatus
US4748922A (en) Device for the manufacture of partially fabricated fitted elastic bedsheets or similar seat covers
US5148760A (en) Method and apparatus using clamps and movable plates for producing pleats
JPH0686882A (ja) ミシンにおける布地保持装置と基布搬送装置
EP0719882B1 (fr) Procédé et machine automatique pour remailler un tricot à bord pris en sandwich
JPS60234689A (ja) ミシンにおけるワークピースのサージング方法及び装置
US4111137A (en) Cuff making machine
JPH0710313B2 (ja) 自動縫い装置
US4714035A (en) Placket lining machine
JPH10314473A (ja) 被加工物にフラップを縫い付けるための自動裁縫装置
US5503095A (en) Edge binding applying apparatus and method
US5778812A (en) Sewing apparatus for sewing circular rib
JPH0671720B2 (ja) ウォータジェット加工機
JPH056957Y2 (fr)
JP2676172B2 (ja) 自動縫製装置
US5769017A (en) Sewing apparatus of tubular cloth

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: INSTITUT TEXTILE DE FRANCE, 35, RUE DES ABONDANCES

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:JULIEN, MICHEL;REEL/FRAME:004815/0953

Effective date: 19870924

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 19930502

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362